Great Mastery, Strength Increased

After these days of practice, Lin Qing'er's movements had become far more standard than when she had first begun. When she assumed the Tiger Fist Stance, she already had a somewhat proper bearing, no longer swaying so badly that she could barely stand steady.

Still, her training time had been far too short. At most, it had only been a few days, so there had yet to be any obvious results, much less any increase in her blood qi.

Feng Chen was not surprised by this!

Not everyone had a golden finger like him. With a heaven-defying talent like Rapid Mastery, he could break through two realms in succession from nothing within a few days.

Lin Qing'er was following the normal path, relying on time and sweat to slowly grind her way forward.

Fortunately, she had the right attitude and was willing to put in the effort. With High-Grade Blood-Qi Medicinal Herbs assisting her every day, her starting conditions were already far better than those of most Martial Artists. With time to polish herself, she would sooner or later become a Martial Artist.

After guiding Lin Qing'er, Feng Chen returned to his room to continue cultivating.

This time, he did not practice the Giant Strength Art!

He planned to train martial techniques.

He would practice both Baji Fist and Meteor Step!

He would push these two martial techniques to higher levels as well.

After all, breaking through to Body Tempering, Third Heaven tomorrow would not be delayed by these few hours. If he raised the levels of his martial techniques tonight, his overall strength would only grow stronger.

He started with Baji Fist.

Feng Chen set his opening stance in the room, sank his waist and hips, and suddenly smashed both fists forward like iron hammers.

Although Baji Fist and Tiger Fist both followed a fierce and forceful path, Tiger Fist imitated the pounce of a savage beast, while Baji Fist placed greater emphasis on the explosive power of close-range strikes. It stressed resisting, bursting, squeezing, and leaning—each punch short and violent, pouring all the strength of the body out within an extremely short distance.

Punch after punch flew out, stirring up a heavy wind. The oil lamp on the table flickered slightly beneath the force of his fists.

Ding dong, Baji Fist proficiency increased by one.

Ding dong, Baji Fist has reached entry level. Please check, Host.

The talent's notification chimes rang without pause. Feng Chen immersed himself in training, refining this new fist technique punch by punch.

The blood qi in his body surged endlessly along with his fist forms. With every punch, he could feel something within his body being tempered into greater purity.

One hour later.

Ding dong, it has been detected that the Host is cultivating diligently. Destiny Talent A Thousand Miles a Day has activated.

His cultivation speed abruptly rose by a great deal, and the principles of Baji Fist flooded into the depths of his consciousness like river water rushing through opened floodgates.

Another half hour later, two notification chimes sounded in succession.

Ding dong, Baji Fist proficiency increased by one.

Ding dong, Baji Fist has reached the Minor Mastery Realm. Please check, Host.

Along with the notification, insights into Minor Mastery-level fist technique surged through his mind!

The detailed methods of exerting force through the four great powers of resisting, bursting, squeezing, and leaning; the transitions and variations between moves; the coordination between footwork and fist techniques!

They were etched into the depths of his consciousness.

After Feng Chen finished absorbing the insights, a smile bloomed across his face. Baji Fist had reached Minor Mastery.

He spread his stance and threw a punch forward. A thunderous boom exploded through the air, and his fist force was more than twice as solid and heavy as before. His strength had risen by quite a bit again.

Without stopping for even a moment, he began practicing Meteor Step.

After improving his fist technique, movement techniques and footwork were equally important. Chasing enemies, evading attacks, and maneuvering in actual combat all depended on movement techniques.

He had Perfection-level Basic Movement Technique as his foundation, but Basic Movement Technique was ultimately only the most rudimentary instinctive footwork. There was still quite a gap between it and a true movement martial technique.

Feng Chen displayed Meteor Step in the room, his figure darting like a shooting star as he flickered and shifted through the cramped space.

His footsteps grew faster and more agile, while his movement paths gradually changed from rough general directions into precise and varied trajectories.

Ding dong, Meteor Step proficiency increased by one.

Ding dong, Meteor Step has reached entry level. Please check, Host.

One hour later.

Ding dong, it has been detected that the Host is diligently cultivating Meteor Step. Destiny Talent A Thousand Miles a Day has activated.

Another hour passed.

Ding dong, Meteor Step has reached the Minor Mastery Realm. Please check, Host.

Along with the notification, dense insights into movement techniques surged through his mind.

Feng Chen closed his eyes and absorbed them. Then his feet moved, and with a whoosh, his figure drew a distinct afterimage across the room, arriving from the doorway to the window almost instantly.

After reaching Minor Mastery, Meteor Step made his body far faster than before. His footsteps made almost no sound when they landed, and his turns and changes of direction were no longer as stiff as Basic Movement Technique. They carried an effortless, flowing agility.

His strength was now much greater than before.

Feng Chen stopped his movement technique in the room and let out a long breath, a satisfied smile on his face.

But he did not stop. With a tap of his toes, he began flashing about again, intending to ride tonight's momentum and train Meteor Step to Great Mastery as well.

Time flashed by, and it became deep into the night.

Outside the window, the moon hung high overhead. Silver-white moonlight spilled onto the crooked jujube tree in the courtyard, casting dappled shadows.

Ding dong, Meteor Step has reached the Great Mastery Realm. Please check, Host.

Another notification sounded, and Great Mastery-level insights into Meteor Step unfolded within his mind.

Feng Chen stopped his movement technique. His body had already been drenched through with sweat several times over.

His consciousness sank into his sea of awareness as he looked at that glowing attribute panel.

Rapid Mastery

Host: Feng Chen

Cultivation Art: Giant Strength Art (Perfection), Tiger Fist (Perfection), Great King Fist (Not Initiated 0/100)

Realm: Body Tempering Second Level (You can barely contend against a Body Tempering, Third Heaven Martial Artist)

Skills: Baji Fist (Minor Mastery 1/100), Meteor Step (Great Mastery 1/100), Five Tigers Gate-Breaking Saber (Perfection), Basic Archery (Perfection), Basic Fist Technique (Perfection), Low-Level Hunting Skill (Perfection), Basic Blade Technique (Perfection), Basic Movement Technique (Perfection), Basic Medicine (Not Initiated 0/100), Eat, Drink, and Be Merry (Perfection)...

His gaze swept quickly over the panel, and Feng Chen smiled in satisfaction.

The description after his realm had changed from the previous "few could match him" to a more straightforward assessment: he could barely contend against a Body Tempering, Third Heaven Martial Artist.

With Baji Fist at Minor Mastery, Meteor Step at Great Mastery, plus Perfection-level Five Tigers Gate-Breaking Saber and Giant Strength Art, the combined strength of his entire arsenal was enough to let him cross a minor realm and touch the threshold of Body Tempering, Third Heaven.

Although he could only barely contend with one, it was enough to give him the strength to fight a Third Heaven Martial Artist. At the very least, he would not be easily crushed.

Once he broke through to Body Tempering, Third Heaven tomorrow, his strength would become even greater!

Feng Chen looked at the changes on the panel, a smile blooming across his face.

He had gained quite a lot this night!

Baji Fist had reached Minor Mastery, Meteor Step had reached Great Mastery, and his realm description had also changed to say that he could barely contend against a Body Tempering, Third Heaven Martial Artist.

This speed of improvement was already very good.

In high spirits, he left his room and went to the courtyard to draw a bucket of cold water. He washed the sweat and grime from his body, then changed into clean underclothes.

When he returned to the bedroom, Lin Qing'er was already curled up on the bed, asleep. Her breathing was light and even, while moonlight leaked through a hole in the window paper and fell upon her peaceful face.

Feng Chen gently lay down, drew her into his arms, and closed his eyes to rest.

Meanwhile, at the Wang Clan Martial Hall.

With a tremendous crash, Wang Batian smashed the sandalwood table before him into four pieces with a single palm.

Wood chips flew everywhere. Teacups and wine jugs clattered to the floor, shattered porcelain and spilled wine splashing in every direction.

He abruptly rose to his feet, and the blood-qi pressure of a Body Tempering, Third Heaven Martial Artist burst out beyond his control. The air in the entire room seemed to freeze solid.

"You said what? Tian Ping and Tian Fan are dead? How is that possible?!" Wang Batian's voice trembled—not from fear, but from rage reaching its peak.

The flesh on his square face tightened like raw iron, veins bulging one after another at his temples as his eyes instantly filled with blood.

He stared fixedly at the middle-aged man kneeling before him, his gaze seeming ready to tear the man alive.

The man kneeling on the ground was called Li Dahu, a subordinate of the Wang Clan Martial Hall and a Body Tempering, First Heaven Martial Artist.